Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- December 8, 2013

Low wages are stalling America’s economy - Opinion: Stagnant wages hold back consumption and investment - Marketwatch - Rex Nutting - December 6, 2013 -WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — American workers should get a raise. They deserve a raise, and the economy needs it, too.                            Low wages are holding us back. Since the official end of the recession more than four years ago, the average wage has barely kept up with inflation, even though workers are more productive and are creating more profits for the owners they work for.                         ALSO SEE: Why Diana Furchtgott-Roth thinks the inequality problem is overblown.

Since June 2009, real average weekly earnings have increased 0.3% per year , even as productivity has increased 1.5% per year. Most of the income gains have gone to the highest paid workers, including the bosses. Real median weekly wages have actually declined 0.8% per year since 2009.

Slow income growth means consumer spending has also grown slowly. Most households are still trying to avoid taking on too much debt (like they did in the 2000s), so they don’t have the purchasing power to buy the additional goods and services that the economy could be producing.

If those additional goods and services can’t be sold, then businesses won’t hire the workers who would produce them, nor will they invest in the buildings or equipment that would be needed.

The U.S. economy relies on consumer spending to drive growth, but consumption is stuck in second gear. With consumer spending growing at less than 2%, it is no surprise that gross domestic product is also stuck in the 2% range. 

Why milk prices may soar to $8 if US goes over 'dairy cliff' - CNBC - Katie Little - December 4, 2013 -Brace yourself: The U.S. is about to go over the "dairy cliff," which could cause milk prices to jump.                      If Congress is not able to pass a new farm bill before the 2008 farm bill expires at the end of the year, a decades-old law will then kick in. As part of this permanent legislation from 1949, the government would then buy dairy products from producers at about twice the current market rate.                  "It could take a period of weeks or a month or two for there to be a trickle-down effect at the retail level," said Chris Galen, senior vice president of communications at the National Milk Producers Federation, a group of 30 dairy cooperatives. "What happens under this permanent law, the USDA is required to basically support a much higher price to dairy farmers."....

Wall Street mortgage businesses bracing for additional layoffs? - Fox Business news - December 2, 2013 - FBN’s Charlie Gasparino on potential Federal Reserve tapering’s impact on Wall Street mortgage units.

Average 30-year mortgage rate jumps to 4.46% - AP Through USA Today - December 5, 2013 -
WASHINGTON (AP) — Average U.S. rates for fixed mortgages rose sharply this week, making home-buying slightly less affordable.                            Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on the 30-year loan jumped to 4.46% from 4.29% last week. The average on the 15-year fixed loan increased to 3.47% from 3.30%.                        Rates have risen a full percentage point since May after the Federal Reserve signaled it might slow its bond purchases by year's end. Rates peaked at 4.6% in August.                  Mortgage rates have stabilized since September, when the Fed surprised markets by taking no action. And rates remain low by historic standards. The Fed meets later this month and could slow the bond purchases if the economy shows further improvement.                  The bond purchases are designed to keep long-term rates low.

Two Sides of the Moon

Asia - Arena (1996) - Two Sides of the Moon - (Geoff Downes, John Payne) – 5:22

Laser, breathing on my window - Two strings, beating out of time - Koto, warning of the danger - Wake up, is your head still mine?

Now they give you reasons - To fight for love

That's enough - In a paper world - That's enough - Said the Chinese girl - That's enough - Another city falls - Just because we're two sides of the moon

Data, streaming through my window - Chrome stars, whispering their lies - Black sky, hides approaching stranger - Reach out, two should now be one

Disregard the reasons - And look above

That's enough - In a paper world - That's enough - Said the Siamese girl - That's enough - Another city falls - Just because we're two sides of the moon

Moonchild  - a person born under the zodiacal sign of Cancer.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
"I Am What I Feel"

It might be said of Cancerians (or "Moonchildren" or Crabs) that "home is where the heart is," for these natives are always aware of the need for the protection and comfort of shelter. This sensitivity for a safe haven extends to both a place to where they are living, as well as their emotions. Ask a Cancer to stay--and find out that they have taken over in subtle ways!

Because this sign is so strongly aware of the close ties of family, they are more open in their expression of feelings for loved ones. The Cancer native plays the role of parent, especially a mother figure, to friends as well as relatives. They must learn not to smother the object of their affections, but to nurture. If they are rejected in their efforts, they are prone to imaginary and real illness, often brought on by worry and emotional upheaval. Cancerians are known for their clinging to relationships, long after they have been cast aside.

Crabs are also emotional to deep extremes, with direct influence of the cycles of the moon, their ruling planet. Their psychic and intuitive links to others make them both pillars of strength and vulnerable targets. The Crab personality is not likely to forget harms done to them, and they can suffer the aches of stomach upsets and ulcers. The crab is known for the hard shell that protects, and Cancerians are tough on the outside and soft-hearted inside. A basic crusty personality can mask the sensitive, shy individual who is unwilling to reveal the moodiness behind the exterior. They are masters of passive resistance, able to act indifferent and unaffected by a lack of harmony with others. They are subtle at reverse psychology, nagging and pleading, and finding out what pleases someone in order to make them change their attitude to suit the Crab. The other party involved often bends their own rules to appease the willing martyr role of the Cancer.

Cancers are also known for their devotion to historical and patriotic ties. They are often the keepers of heirlooms, family records and legacies, antiques and other reminders of the line of heritage. They have a capacity to save for the future, keeping in mind that security also means financial prudence. They can become fussy to a fault with their monies, unwilling to spend even when necessary, holding onto their resources with a greedy insistence. On the other hand, some Crab types, especially mothers with rebellious children, have been known to allow their savings to be spent in hopeful efforts to save their children from troubles.

Newsletter about the City Council meeting of December 3, 2013

I began recording the City Council late last year, because of my desire that the City do it on their own as any modern 21st century community began doing long ago. I had people tell me that they couldn't make it to the meetings, but they would like to see what is going on. I was also told by some council members that my summaries did not truly reflect the record, so having a video/audio recording cannot be misinterpreted.

So below is the City Council meeting. With each agenda item, you can click on the links and it will take you to that specific point in the meeting. You can always drag the marker on the video display to the point in the broadcast that you are interested in seeing.

Agenda about the City Council meeting of December 3, 2013

Highlighted Links below take you straight to that point in the video.





Invocation by Rev. John Duncan, Pastor Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Senior Chaplain – Hickory
Fire Department

Oaths of Office Ceremony

Recognition of Retiring Ward 5 Alderwoman Sally Fox
Hound: Thank You Mrs. Fox for your years of service. There are issues that I disagree with you on and there are issues I agree with you 1,000% on. The issues where we differ, I believe that your heart is in the right place and you want to see the city progress. Myself and others just have a different idea about how to get there. Thank You for the stand that you and Mrs. Patton took in bringing Citizens Requesting to be Heard back to the front of the Agenda and making it relevant again.


Election of Mayor Pro Tempore for Calendar Year 2014 Pursuant to NC General Statute §260A-
70 and Section 2-54 of the Hickory City Code.

Appointment of a City Attorney for Calendar Year 2014 Pursuant to the Hickory City Code, Section 4.151 of the Charter.

Special Presentations
A. Community Appearance Commission’s 2013 Beautification Awards Presentation - http://www.hickorync.gov/egov/documents/1386167263_32073.pdf

Persons Requesting to Be Heard
Larry Pope speaks about the Municipal election system in Hickory and the grievances that the people in Ward 4 have against it.

David Crosby speaks about issues on Old Lenoir Road including the speed limit and he speaks about taxes being returned to the local businesses. (From the beginning - City Version)

Consent Agenda:

New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Inspiring Spaces Update - Staff will review the last Inspiring Spaces Steering Committee discussions and outline the next steps.

I addressed this in my Initial thoughts about the meeting.

2. Approval of a Recommendation from Parks and Recreation Commission Establishing a Tobacco Free Parks Policy. - There is a current initiative underway between the Catawba County Public Health Department and the North Carolina Community Transformation Grant Project in a unified effort that would establish tobacco free parks in all local governments within Catawba County. Municipalities in the county currently have smoke free policies in place for buildings. All City of Hickory buildings have been smoke free since 1993. Additionally, discussions have been underway for several years to establish tobacco free grounds policies across the county as well. Staff presented two (2) tobacco free parks policies to the Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration at their October 8, 2013 meeting. The first policy option would prohibit the use of tobacco products in all park areas. The second policy option stipulates that tobacco products may be used only in the paved parking lots located in the parks. Whichever policy is adopted would become effective January 1, 2014.

The City Council passed the policy that states that smoking will not be allowed anywhere on park property. Initially it seemed that they would follow the Parks and Recreation Commissions recommendation that smoking would be allowed in the parking lots. The vote was 4-3 with Meisner, Guess, Zagaroli, and Patton supporting a total ban. Lail, Wright, and Seaver voted against the measure, but seemed that they would support the ban with a provision allowing people to smoke in the parking lot.

Hound: I don't smoke, but this isn't enforceable and is another arbitrary administration of government power. If someone is in their car smoking in the parking lot is someone going to tell them they can't do so? And this could get testy. They say the police won't be involved, but someone (in a position of authority) is going to be involved. We deal with this in the restaurant business all the time and sometimes people do get testy about it.

3. Analysis of City Manager’s Employment Agreement - At the November 19, 2013 City Council meeting, Mayor Wright asked that at the next meeting staff provide explanation of how the City Manager’s pay is determined. The manager will review the employment agreement and salary history since his employment in August 2004.

Hound: The City Manager makes $165,000 a year not including benefits. That is over 5x what the median income is in Hickory $27,866 (2010).

General Comments
Alderman Lail speaks about Lenoir Rhyne University being in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II football playoffs

Initial thoughts about last night's city council meeting

I will have the city council meeting up in a few hours. I was late to the meeting, so it will begin in progress. Truly, congrats to Sally on her years of service. We might not agree on some things, but I do believe you care about Hickory.

The interesting discussion from the night was about Inspiring Spaces. They are going to bring some recommendations forward at the next meeting; you know the meeting before Christmas.

The number 1 priority addressed is something that is already in the pipeline and is already already being paid for by a private interest and that is the Bob Lackey enhancement to Geitner Park. That will be a beautiful park and a great addition to the community and Mr. Lackey is 100% responsible for it. It would not be happening without him.

The number 2 priority addressed was the redefining of Downtown. I have told you and others have told you that Inspiring Spaces will be about spending money on Union Square. I like the idea of redefining downtown. I spoke about it 4 years ago.

Hickory must redefine concept of downtown - HDR Editorial - February 26, 2009

I don't like where my thoughts tell me the doublespeak will take us. I will point to where Andrea Surratt said that Inspiring Spaces wasn'r going to be about Downtown and we had already invested enough Downtown recently with "The Sails." I have the plays and I don't even have to steal their playbook.

The number 3 priority mentioned was splash pads. This was spoken of as "Aquatic Recreation". It was mentioned that they will be building four of these. Personally, I have had nothing against splashpads, but there needs to be a pool in the community and this should not be a substitute.

The number 4 priority addressed is the Main Ave corridor. They are looking to connect the L-R area with Union Square. This isn't a bad concept. They call this the Main Ave Linear Park. I thought that the 1st and 2nd ave SW corridor would and should be more of a priority.  This is another focus on Old Hickory.

Wanda Arnold, You are a Patriot

I read the Letter to the Editor in the Hickory Daily Record this morning in response to your response of a response to your initial Letter to the Editor talking about Alternative Media and your legitimate concerns about issues facing our nation and its citizens.

I have agreed with what you have espoused so far and appreciate your open mindedness. I know that you visit this site and many of the others that I visit also. I have read many of Mr. Flo's LttE in the past and appreciate his candidness, but he is still stuck inside the box. There are many people who consider themselves to be mavericks and free thinkers who live inside the box.

Wanda, we are called Conspiracy Theorists because we are looking into issues that way too many people are too lazy to look into themselves. Alternative media is the real media. The television is an idiot box. It is there to mesmerize you and feed you pablum. It is entertaining; but like anything, overindulging is bad for your health.

Going to alternative media sources and learning how to read between the lines is how you stay ahead of the curve. With the corporate media, issues have to be funneled through the proper channels and meet various criteria before they can be mentioned -- ie don't upset Big Brother. Then they want to figure out how they can explain the information to the least common denominator mindset. Under such a system, only those well connected to the government and major corporations have the privilege of knowing the details of important issues.

Do you want to be the first to know or the last to know?

Mr. Flo gets into the matter of the Banking Industry. I don't know what world Mr. Flo lives in, but Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve's manipulations of the currency have not helped anyone, but the wealthiest of the wealthy.  He did not keep us out of a Depression. By most legitimate measurements, we have been buried neck deep in one.

A little economic lesson for Mr. Flo, increasing the money supply decreases the value of the dollar. That means it takes more dollars to buy things. Inflation is a variable in determining interest rates. Only through the Fed's manipulated interest rate policies have the rates been kept absurdly artificially low.

What is the Fed doing with this extra money? Their policies have encouraged the Financial Industry to manipulate commodities across the board and across the world.The Fed is lending money to investment institutions who are placing bets in the worldwide financial markets. This is bidding up the price of commodities and creating unintended consequences and moral hazards in the markets. This manipulation of interest rates downward is like keeping a lid tamped down on a steaming pot. Eventually the billowing force in the pot will cause it to explode. That is what is going to happen to interest rates, if it doesn't end up making the markets completely seize up in the process. Ask people who have bought money market instruments how they feel about being paid 1% or 2% on their money. When interest rates spike, it is going to mean bad consequences for the United States Annual Deficit and the National Debt.

I am also not comfortable following Mr. Flo's advice and trusting the government to do what is best for me. I am not comfortable to allow them free rein without checks and balances to do what is right. In a free and open society there is nothing wrong with questioning authority. If necessary, there is nothing wrong with citizens redressing their grievances through civil disobedience.

I believed in the wars that occurred after 9/11 in the beginning, but after all of these years and looking back on what has occurred, I have felt foolish. Mr. Flo talks about feeling secure because of the security apparatus that has been put in place; I do not. Look at all of the money that has been spent and we are constantly told that we need to spend more and the reality is that it all is benefiting the very few at the expense of the very many.

Ben Franklin on Liberty:

They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

The debts racked up over the last decade have been directly attributable to this negative force of power. Mr. Flo talks about this mechanism preventing further terror attacks, while I say the real terror has been against our individual liberties. Why is it that our voice doesn't count and our monies are spent when we are against all of this... and there is no real debate of the issue?

They call us Conspiracy Theorists, because they don't want to debate the issues. We won't partake in their Kool-Aid and this frustrates them to no end.  They can have my share, because I am not going to join the cult; I am not a Sunshine Patriot. Because we don't go along to get along and automatically support the Powers that Be, they want to take away our freedom to express ourselves. They want to shut us down.

Wanda, others, one more quote from Ben Franklin:

Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins. Republics and limited monarchies derive their strength and vigor from a popular examination into the action of the magistrates. - "On Freedom of Speech and the Press", Pennsylvania Gazette, 17 November 1737.

Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- December 1, 2013

The Dying Dollar — Paul Craig Roberts - November 22, 2013 - Since 2006, the US dollar has experienced a one-quarter to one-third drop in value to the Chinese yuan, depending on the choice of base.                           Now China is going to let the dollar decline further in value.  China also says it is considering undermining the petrodollar by pricing oil futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange in yuan. This on top of the growing avoidance of the dollar to settle trade imbalances means that the dollar's role as reserve currency is coming to an end, which means the termination of the US as financial bully and financial imperialist.  This blow to the dollar in addition to the blows delivered by jobs offshoring and the uncovered bets in the gambling casino created by financial deregulation means that the US economy as we knew it is coming to an end.                      The US economy is already in shambles, with bond and stock markets propped up by massive and historically unprecedented Fed money printing pouring liquidity into financial asset prices.  This month at the IMF annual conference, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said that to achieve full employment in the US economy would require negative real interest rates.  Negative real interest rates could only be achieved by eliminating cash, moving to digital money that can only be kept in banks, and penalizing people for saving.                              The future is developing precisely as I have been predicting.                     As the dollar enters its death throes, the lawless Federal Reserve and the Wall Street criminals will increase their shorting of gold in the paper futures market, thereby driving the remnants of the West’s gold into Asian hands.

Paul Craig Roberts interview on King World News - MP3 Link

China Announces That It Is Going To Stop Stockpiling U.S. Dollars - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder - November 21st, 2013 - China just dropped an absolute bombshell, but it was almost entirely ignored by the mainstream media in the United States.  The central bank of China has decided that it is "no longer in China’s favor to accumulate foreign-exchange reserves".  During the third quarter of 2013, China's foreign-exchange reserves were valued at approximately $3.66 trillion.  And of course the biggest chunk of that was made up of U.S. dollars.  For years, China has been accumulating dollars and working hard to keep the value of the dollar up and the value of the yuan down.  One of the goals has been to make Chinese products less expensive in the international marketplace.  But now China has announced that the time has come for it to stop stockpiling U.S. dollars.  And if that does indeed turn out to be the case, than many U.S. analysts are suggesting that China could also soon stop buying any more U.S. debt.  Needless to say, all of this would be very bad for the United States.                          For years, China has been systematically propping up the value of the U.S. dollar and keeping the value of the yuan artificially low.  This has resulted in a massive flood of super cheap products from across the Pacific that U.S. consumers have been eagerly gobbling up.                          For example, have you ever gone into a dollar store and wondered how anyone could possibly make a profit by making those products and selling them for just one dollar?
Well, the truth is that when you flip those products over you will find that almost all of them have been made outside of the United States.  In fact, the words "made in China" are probably the most common words in your entire household if you are anything like the typical American.                    Thanks to the massively unbalanced trade that we have had with China, tens of thousands of our businesses, millions of our jobs and trillions of our dollars have left this country and gone over to China.                           And now China has apparently decided that there is not much gutting of our economy left to do and that it is time to let the dollar collapse.  As I mentioned above, China has announced that it is going to stop stockpiling foreign-exchange reserves...





Black Friday: A Shameful Orgy Of Materialism For A Morally Bankrupt Nation - The Economic Collapse Blog - Michael Snyder -  November 29th, 2013 - It has been called "America's most disturbing holiday".  Black Friday is the day when millions of average Americans wait outside retail stores in the middle of the night in the freezing cold to spend more money that they do not have for more cheap Chinese-made products that they do not need.  It is a day when the rest of the world makes fun of Americans for behaving like "rabid animals" and "zombies" as we indulge in a tsunami of greed.  It truly is a shameful orgy of materialism for a morally bankrupt nation.  It is being projected that approximately 140 million Americans will participate in this disgusting national ritual this year.  Sadly, most of them have absolutely no idea that they are actively participating in the destruction of the economic infrastructure of the United States.  If you don't understand why this is true, please be sure to read this entire article all the way to the end.                       The amount of merchandise that is purchased on Black Friday is absolutely staggering.  For example, just consider how much stuff is sold at Wal-Mart alone...

10 things department stores won’t tell you - What to know before entering J.C. Penney, Macy’s, other retail giants - Marketwatch (The Wall Street Journal) - Charles Passy - November 30. 2013

The late Bob Chapman saw it in 2008 - The International Forecaster -   November 30 2013: Bob was known for his caustic wit, contrarian viewpoints, and clairvoyant foresight of things to come. In 2008, he saw the corruption of what was to come in the markets. - “The dollar has clearly been abandoned and foreigners are starting to bail from dollar-denominated assets in droves. This is where bailouts, and the hyperinflationary destruction of the dollar that comes with them, are leading us, along with miniscule bond rates caused by continual flights to “security” as everyone flees in terror due to rapidly deteriorating market conditions caused by subprime fallout, over-leveraged speculation, fraudulent lending and borrowing, lack of oversight, transparency and confidence, frozen credit markets, an out-of-control money supply, profligate borrowing and spending, as well as an economy destroyed in less than two decades by globalization, free trade, off-shoring, outsourcing, unrestrained illegal immigration, insane wars for profit and the rampant inflation and unemployment that come from a completely, totally and malevolently mismanaged economy thanks to the reprobates and sociopaths that run the Fed and our government.” Bob Chapman, International Forecaster, 2008.





Sundown in America - Wall Street Journal interview with David Stockman - November 30, 2013

Agenda about the City Council meeting of December 3, 2013

This Agenda is about the Hickory City Council meeting that took place on the date listed above. City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each Month in the Council Chambers of the Julian Whitener building.

At right of this page under Main Information links is an Hickory's City Website link. If you click on that link, it takes you to our city’s website, at the left of the page you will see the Agenda's and Minutes link you need to click. This will give you a choice of PDF files to upcoming and previous meetings.

You will find historic Agenda and Minutes links. Agendas show what is on the docket for the meeting of that date. The Minutes is an actual summary of the proceedings of the meeting of that date. You can also look in the upper right hand corner of the front page of the Hickory Hound and (will soon) find the link to the past history of Hickory City Newsletters.

Here is a summary of the agenda of the meeting. There were a couple of important items that were discussed at this meeting and the details are listed further below:

Please remember that pressing Ctrl and + will magnify the text and page and pressing Ctrl and - will make the text and page smaller. This will help the readability for those with smaller screens and/or eye difficulties.

City Website has changed - Here is a link to the City of Hickory Document Center
City Council Agenda - December 3, 2013

Invocation by Rev. John Duncan, Pastor Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Senior Chaplain – Hickory
Fire Department

Oaths of Office Ceremony

Recognition of Retiring Ward 5 Alderwoman Sally Fox

Election of Mayor Pro Tempore for Calendar Year 2014 Pursuant to NC General Statute §260A-
70 and Section 2-54 of the Hickory City Code.

Appointment of a City Attorney for Calendar Year 2014 Pursuant to the Hickory City Code, Section 4.151 of the Charter.

Special Presentations
A. Community Appearance Commission’s 2013 Beautification Awards Presentation

Persons Requesting to Be Heard


Consent Agenda:
A. Resolution Certificate of Appreciation Suzette Bradshaw, Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority.

B. Proclamation for Bill of Rights Day, December 15, 2013.

C. Approval to Accept a Grant to Assist in Funding the Purchase of Bulletproof Vests for Police Officers. - Since 1999, the BVP program has reimbursed more than 13,000 jurisdictions, a total of $277 million in federal funds for the purchase of over one million vests. BVP is a critical resource for state and local jurisdictions that saves lives. The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 was signed as law (Public Law 105-181). The purpose of this act is to save the lives of law enforcement officers by helping States and units of local government equip their law enforcement officer with armor vests. The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to improving officer safety and has undertaken research to review and analyze violent encounters and law enforcement officer deaths and injuries. Due to the increase in the number of law enforcement officer deaths, coupled with our renewed efforts to improve officer safety, beginning with FY 2011, in order to receive BVP funds, jurisdictions must certify, during the application process, that all law enforcement agencies benefitting from the BVP Program have a written "mandatory wear" policy in effect. Hickory Police Department has a mandatory wear policy. This grant will pay 37.10% Federal cost of NIJ approved vests and the City of Hickory portion will be 62.90%. Monies are placed in the police department budget annually to purchase vests for police officers. Life expectancy of each vest is approximately five (5) years. Hickory Police Department requests permission to accept a grant to assist in funding the purchase of bulletproof vests for police officers. The federal share of this grant is $9,350 and the City’s share is $15,850. 

D. Community Relations Council (CRC) Requests Approval for Fall 2013 Grant Recommendations in the Amount of $5,828. - As part of the Community Relations Council work plan and annual budget process, CRC receives funds to disperse during the fiscal year through the CRC grant process. Nonprofit agencies working with diverse populations in Hickory are eligible for grant funding. The grant proposal must show how the program under consideration fits into the CRC goals and mission and how the program will serve to improve human relations in the Hickory area. The Community Relations Council recommends funding of four grants totaling $5,828.00 Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, dental care for those in need, $1,500; Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center, “What do I do now?” A bi-lingual guide tolocal services for families with a child with learning disabilities, $1,500; Family Care Center of Catawba Valley, Life Skills Workshops for homeless in shelters, $1,500; and Council on Adolescents, Lunch Buddy Mentoring Program, $1,328.

E. Approval of a Renewal of Agreement between the Western Piedmont Council of Governments and the City of Hickory to Support the Western Piedmont Stormwater Partnership for Phase II Public Education. - The City was issued an NPDES Phase II Stormwater Permit by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources on July 1, 2005. One of the requirements of the permit in the Public Education and Outreach Minimum Measure is that the City develop and implement a pubic education and outreach program to raise public awareness on the causes and impacts of stormwater pollution. This renewal agreement is the result of the establishment of a regionally focused and municipally supported Phase II public education and outreach coalition, the Western Piedmont Stormwater Partnership, which is administered by the Western Piedmont  Council of Government (WPCOG). The activities in this agreement will meet the public education and outreach minimum measures of this section of the NEDES Phase II permit. This agreement would be for the period of October 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014. Payment would be in quarterly installments of $2,581.75. Funding for this agreement is available from the current stormwater budget.

F. Acceptance of Offers to Purchase and Contract for Properties Located at 1742, 1743, and 1746 Whitewater Court, in the Waterford Hills Subdivision. - Staff requests consideration of Offers to Purchase and Contract for properties located at 1742, 1743, and 1746 Whitewater Court, in the Waterford Hills Subdivision. The properties were originally purchased by the City because they were on the route of the proposed Southern Cross-Town. The route for the future thoroughfare has since been amended, and the properties are no longer needed. Vale Traian Vasiu and Gelu Vasiu are interested in purchasing these lots in order to construct singe family dwellings. They are offering $15,000 per lot. Notice of Upset Bid was advertised on November 8, 2013 in a newspaper having general circulation in the Hickory area. No upset bids were received for the properties.

G. Call for Public Hearing - For the Consideration of Rezoning Petition 13-15 for Property Located at the Northeast Corner of Cloninger Mill Road and North Center Street (NC 127 North).

H. Call for Public Hearing – For the Consideration of Amending Chapter 16 of the Hickory Code of Ordinances of the City of Hickory by Amending Section 16-43. 

Here is the Ordinance to be addressed: 

Sec. 16-43. - Use of unlicensed premises prohibited; exception.

No secondhand precious metal business shall make use of any property or premises not included within the premises designated in or by the license required by this article for the display of any secondhand article made, in whole or in part, of gold, silver, or platinum or for the conduct of a secondhand precious metal business. This article does not prohibit the storage or safekeeping of any such secondhand article off of the licensed premises.

(Code 1981, § 16-15)

I. Budget Ordinance Amendment Number 10.
1. To budget a $400 Friends of the Hickory Library donation in the Programming line item for Senior Programming Supplies.
2. To budget a $4,999 insurance claim payment from Argonaut Great Central Insurance Company in the Parks and Recreation Department Specialized Equipment line item. This payment is for a stolen Club Car from the Field House and will apply towards the cost of a replacement.
3. To transfer $15,850 from the Police Departments Uniform line item to the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant (BVP) budget. The United States Department of Justice awarded the City of Hickory a Federal Grant to pay up to $9,350 (37.10%) of the costs of National Institute of Justice approved vests. The Grant awarded by the Department of Justice requires a local match of $15,850. This Grant will allow the City to purchase 40 vests at $625 and includes shipping costs.
4. To transfer $10,256 of General Fund Contingency to the Economic Incentive line item to fund a total of $45,256 incentives payment to Turbocoating Corporation. The joint economic development agreement between the City of Hickory and Turbocoating Corporation specified improvements to machinery, equipment and fixtures, and the creation and maintaining of specified jobs. Turbocoating Corporation has met the conditions of the agreement.
5. To appropriate $5,500 of Transportation Fund-Appropriated Fund Balance and budget in the Airports Other Professional Services line item. These funds are the remainder of the $20,000 grant from Eastern Aviation and will be used towards covering costs in the Other Professional Services line item.
6. To transfer $605,750 to the appropriate expenditure codes for the purchase of 3 Solid Waste Heavy Equipment Replacement Vehicles which were approved by City Council in the FY13-14 Annual Budget.

J. Grant Project Ordinance Number 4.
1. To accept and budget a $15,850 transfer from the Police Departments Uniforms line item and to budget a $9,350 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant (BVP) for a total of $25,200. The United States Department of Justice awarded the City of Hickory a Federal Grant to pay up to $9,350 (37.10%) of the costs of National Institute of Justice approved vests and requires a local match of $15,850. This Grant will allow the City to purchase 40 vests at $625 and includes the shipping costs.



New Business - Departmental Reports:
1. Inspiring Spaces Update - Staff will review the last Inspiring Spaces Steering Committee discussions and outline the next steps.

2. Approval of a Recommendation from Parks and Recreation Commission Establishing a Tobacco Free Parks Policy. - There is a current initiative underway between the Catawba County Public Health Department and the North Carolina Community Transformation Grant Project in a unified effort that would establish tobacco free parks in all local governments within Catawba County. Municipalities in the county currently have smoke free policies in place for buildings. All City of Hickory buildings have been smoke free since 1993. Additionally, discussions have been underway for several years to establish tobacco free grounds policies across the county as well. Staff presented two (2) tobacco free parks policies to the Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration at their October 8, 2013 meeting. The first policy option would prohibit the use of tobacco products in all park areas. The second policy option stipulates that tobacco products may be used only in the paved parking lots located in the parks. Whichever policy is adopted would become effective January 1, 2014.

3. Analysis of City Manager’s Employment Agreement - At the November 19, 2013 City Council meeting, Mayor Wright asked that at the next meeting staff provide explanation of how the City Manager’s pay is determined. The manager will review the employment agreement and salary
history since his employment in August 2004.